Desserts

Gems, popular in 19th century America, were miniature muffins that baked in special “gem” pans. Our version bakes in a muffin pan to create individual biscuits that are a bit smaller than the usual shortcake.

It only takes three ingredients to make a delicious topping for ice cream or cheesecake.

This coffee cake boasts ribbons of fruit and a cinnamon streusel topping.

When berry season is in full stride, pick the juiciest ones and make this spice-laced pie.

You can't go wrong with this winning combination of bluberries and cream cheese, perched on a graham cracker crust.

A crunchy walnut-studded crust makes a delicious base for these bars. It’s topped with a lemony New York-style cheesecake and finished with plump, fresh blueberries.

A buttery oatmeal topping adds crunch to this blueberry-rich pie. For faster preparation, substitute a refrigerated pie crust for the homemade one. Although the pie needs little embellishment, you can serve it with a scoop of vanilla or lemon custard ice cream.

This Southern dessert is dense with blueberries and laced with lime for a beautiful flavor match.

Basil lends an unexpected depth and delicacy to desserts. The compote for this sundae owes its quiet spiciness to a basil and cinnamon infusion. Although there is a variety of basil called cinnamon basil, you can achieve a similar flavor by substituting ordinary sweet basil and cinnamon sticks.

When it comes to her grandchildren, Ethel L. Yates aims to please. “I have two grandsons that live with me,” she says. “One time, I had enough crust for only one pie, and one grandson likes pears and the other blueberries.” She decided to combine their favorite ingredients and came up with a pie that satisfied both boys.